Leg lock construction for metal tables



Oct. 30, 1951 B. B. BRONSTEINV ,5 4

LEG LOCK CONSTRUCTION FOR METAL TABLES Filed April 11, 1949 FIG. 6 F1115 IINVENTOR.

patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES urn-cs- LEG LOCK CONSTRUCTION Fort METAL TABLES Benjamin BgBrqnstein, Shaker Heights, Ohio- Application August 11, 194 9 Serialllo, 1( 9,62 7 Qlaims (Cl. 311-110) This invention relates to improvements in metal furniture. and particularly to tables and the like.

The primary object of thisinvention isv to pr videa table structure whose top and legs can be readily interlocked by a singlesliding motipn,

Another object is to provide, a table that can be-shipped in knocked-down condition in a cornpact package and which can be readily assembled by the purchaser into a rigid and sturdy structure.

' A further. object is to provide a, device Of the type stated that is light in weight, of great strength, attractive in appearance and low in cost. of manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent. from a reading of the following, specification and claims together with the accompanying drawing wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein;

. Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of ametal table made in accordance with this invention;

' Fi ur 2 is an e larged fron evatio c th table top and leg assembly showing one of the legs in its interlocked positio Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the leg and top taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3 of Figure 3 Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view talgen along the line and in t e d re ti of the arrows 4-,.4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an exploded-view of the tabletop and one of the legs in'their unasfimbled conditlOn; and

Fi u a to lan. i w oi o e Of he-lee members.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a table struct re w ch a e a emb d. n 'co n c ed et er. a to H} l s and a le brace 30.

Figure 1 illustrates a portion of table structure embodying this invention.-th,e missing poi.- tion of the table bein si la t tha hawn,

' to form the conventional table having four legs and a brace or shelf 36 located beneath the top I!) in spaced relation therewith and connecting t l wer portion of the leg .29 o ether- The table top may take any one of a number of conventional shapes as are well known in the art of such a round, rectangular, square or oval,

The preferred form shown is substantially rectangular in outline.

The top I0 is formed of sheet metal share 2. to. have peri her l. d nt ne an aving an arcuate outwardly curved upper portion I I and a dependent straight lower portion I2 lesser diameter than the arcuate upper portion.

Horizontally extending slots I3 are punched at each corner of the top flange I9 at the inter section of its upper and lower portions 'I I and I2 respectively as is shown most; clearly in Fig ure 5;

Inset sockets I4 are formed in the lower portion l2 of the flange I9 integral therewith, immediately below the slots I3'and contiguous thereto. Each socket has facingand spaced substantially vertically extending channels I5 and [5 that areslightlyinclined toward one another from their lower to their upper portions The inset wall I8 of the socket I4 is cut out to form a verticallyextending tongue I! positioned in termediate' the channels I5 and I6; The tongue I? is bent outwardly to normally. assume the outset position illustrated in Figure 4'; The entire socket structure is displaced outwardly at a slight angle to' the vertical so that the free ends of the hereinafter described legs will nor?- mally extend slightly outward when positioned in the socket.

The legs 20 preferably are formed of channellike metallic strips having their extreme upper ends offset inwardly as shown in Figure 6 to form a horizontally extending stop 22 located between two upturned ears 23. Reference characters 24 and 25 indicate laterally extending flanges formed integral with the upper-side edge of the leg 29. The leg flanges 24 and 25 are slightly inclined toward one another in a degree matching the inclination of the socket channels I5 and I6 with which they are intended to'be slidably interfitted.

The arrangement of the stops, ears and leg flanges is such that when the leg flanges 24 and 25 are slidably inserted in the socket channels I5 and I6 respectively, the ears 23 willprojct through the slots I3 and bear against the inner concave face I I of the top flange I 9, while at the same time, the under sides of the stops ra es: against the upper edges of the outset tongues, 1.1 as shown in Figures 2 and .4. I

The tongues I'I have sufficient inherent resiliency to flex inward to take the position designated by the reference character Ila as the inner e e i the st 2 t a he t e faces durin the t me the le an es a d 5 a ea in m ed e t call c the sa h channe s l5 and Ili- Th nstant th st 22 P e he up er edge of the ton ue '1 hiqlisu snapi back to its normal outset position which brings the upper edge of the tongue I! into contact with the lower face of the stop 22 to lock the leg 20 in place as shown in Figure 4.

The legs are thus prevented from dropping out of the sockets 14 once they are inserted, making it easy for one person to assemble the table structure. The leg cannot be released unless the tongue I1 is manually pressed inward beyond the end of the stop 22 to permit the stop to move downward.

The complemental tapered relationship of the socket channels 14 and I5 and the leg flanges 24 and 25 results in a wedging fit between these elements which adds to the rigidity of the structure.

Reference character 30 indicates a rectangular brace or shelf that is attached to the lower portion of each leg by means of bolts 3|. The dimensions of the shelf 30 are such that the legs 20 will be brought under suflicient inward tension to cause them to assume a vertical position when the bolts 3! are drawn up. This straightening of the legs against the outward force produced as a result of the slight outward inclination from the vertical of the sockets M, as described hereinbefore, puts the entire table top under stress to provide a sturdy structure that will not shake loose even after prolonged rough treatment.

In this preferred form of the invention, the legs 26 have been shown with laterally extending flanges 24 and 25 that slidably engage spaced facing channels 15 and [6 in the sockets M. However, this condition could be reversed to accomplish the same results.

While the structure used to illustrate my novel methodof fastening legs to sheet metal furniture has taken the form of a table, the same construction could be applied to any article of metal furniture havinga top member supported by legs, such as a chair or a stool.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form; it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A metallic table structure in which is in- .cluded a top, legs and a leg brace, the said top having a peripheral downturned flange provided with a plurality of spaced inset sockets formed integral therewith including faced channel portions,

-a horizontal slot extending between the said channels and a tongue positioned intermediate said channels at said slot, the upper end portions of said legs being provided with ears, stops and lateral flanges arranged so that when the flanges are positioned correspondingly in said .channels and the undersides of the stops engage the upper ends of said tongues and the ears project through said slots against the interior wall of said flange, thus establishing interlocking connection between the top and legs, and said leg brace being attached to said legs to hold same in interlocking position.

2. A metallic table structure, comprising in combination, a generally horizontal sheet-metal top including a peripheral flange having an arcuate upper portion and a downwardly extending lower portion of lesser diameter, the said flange having a plurality of spaced horizontally extending slots at the intersection of the said upper and lower portions and a plurality of inset sockets formed integral therewith and displaced outwardly at a small angle from the vertical, one at each of the said slots, each of the said sockets having facing vertical channel portions and an outset tongue positioned intermediate the said channels with its upper edge at the said slot; a leg for each of the said sockets said leg being formed of sheet-metal and having its upper end offset to provide an inwardly extending stop, upwardly extending spaced ears on either side of said stop, and laterally extending channel engaging flanges, the leg flanges being slidably engageable vertically of said socket channels to cause said ears to project through said slot and bear against the interior of the arcuate portion of the top flange and with the underside of the stop in engagement with the upper edge of the tongue, thus establishing interlocking connection between the top and legs with the legs normally extending slightly outward; and a brace connecting said legs adapted to hold same under inward stress to secure the legs and top firmly in their interlocked connection.

3. A metallic table structure, comprising in combination, a generally horizontal sheet metal top including a peripheral downturned flange provided with a plurality of spaced inset sockets formed integral therewith, each of the said sockets having a pair of vertically extending faced channel portions and a horizontal slot extending between the upper ends of the said channels to define an inset socket wall terminating at the said slot; a leg for each of the said sockets, said leg being formed of sheet metal and having its upper end oifset to provide an inwardly extending stop, upwardly extending spaced ears on either side of said stop and laterally extending channel engaging flanges, the leg flange being slidably engageable vertically of said socket channels to cause said ears to project through said slot and bear against the interior of the flange and with the underside of the stop in engagement with the upper edge of the aforesaid socket wall, thus establishing interlocking connection between the top and legs; and a brace connecting said legs adapted to hold same under inward stress to secure the legs and top firmly in their interlocked connection.

4. A metallic table structure or the like, comprising in combination, a generally horizontal sheet metal top including a peripheral flange having an arcuate upper portion and a downwardly extending lower portion, the said flange having a plurality of spaced horizontally extending slots formed therein and a plurality of inset sockets formed integral therewith, one socket being provided below each of the said slots, each of the said sockets including leg edge engaging means and having an exposed upper edge at the said slot; a leg for each of said sockets, said leg being formed of sheet metal and having laterally extending side edges, said legs and said sockets being of complementary wedge shapes, and means being provided on said legs and sockets to engage and prevent withdrawal of said legs after being inserted into said sockets a predetermined distance. Y

5. A metallic table structure or the like, comprising in combination, a generally horizontal sheet metal top including a peripheral flange having an arcuate upper portion and a downwardly extending lower portion, the said flange having a plurality of spaced horizontally extending slots ing engagement with said overhanging portions formed therein and a plurality of sockets formed integral therewith, one socket being provided below each of the said slots, each of the said sockets including leg side edge engaging means and an exposed upper edge at the said slot, a leg for each of said sockets, said leg being formed of sheet metal and having its upper portion offset to provide an inwardly extending stop to contact a, portion of said flange adjacent said opening, upwardly extending spaced ears and laterally outwardly extending side edges also being formed on each of said legs at the top thereof, the said le s having sliding engagement up into said sockets, said upper ofiset portion of said legs being adapted to be sprung by and then bear on the exposed upper edge of the said socket in which such leg is received to limit withdrawal of said leg from its receiving socket.

6. A knockdown type of table 'or the like comprising a top having a downwardly extending edge flange, a plurality of substantially horizontally directed openings being provided in said table flange, said flange also having a plurality of leg receiving sockets formed therein immediately below said openings with overhanging edge portions being provided in the sockets, a metallic leg engaged with each said socket by laterally outwardly extending marginal portions in slidof said sockets, and cooperating means provided on said legs and said socket portions of the table flange to aid in retaining said legs in engagement BENJAIVIIN B. BRONSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 317,270 Zeigler May 5, 1885 1,572,003 Fleming Feb. 9, 1926 1,800,456 Lawrence Apr. 14, 1931 1,888,208 Ferguson Nov. 22, 1982 

